Nirbhaya’s Memorial: CM Reviled, BJP MP Lauded for Same Remarks

While addressing the problem of ‘dark spots’ in the context of women’s safety in Delhi, Kejriwal was stopped short.

Memorial Service of Nirbhaya organised at Constitution Club.

(Photo: The Quint)

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was stopped short of completing his speech while addressing the problem of 'dark spots' in Delhi at the memorial service organised in memory of Nirbhaya in Delhi's Constitution Club on Saturday, 16 December.

A ruckus alleging the chief minister of using the stage as an opportunity for his political agenda erupted when some people from the audience pressed objections.

Aam Aadmi Party in their tweet alleged that the row was deliberately created by BJP supporters.

Addressing a gathering of citizens and women activist groups, the chief minister pointed out the probable solutions to the recurrent crisis of women’s safety in the national capital. Kejriwal assured the gatherers that the government would soon install CCTV cameras across the capital.

The tenders for installing CCTV cameras in Delhi have been opened. I was talking to the minister, and perhaps if there are no impediments in technical evaluation, soon we will have CCTV cameras across the city.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal 

While further addressing the problem of ‘dark spots’ and other probable solutions to help improve women’s safety in Delhi, the minister was stopped midway.

When he said that apart from PWD, no other agencies have given him a NOC to go ahead with setting up lights at dark spots in the city, some audience members stood up and said he was bringing up the topic because elections were fast approaching.

Even after repeated requests by the chief minister, Nirbhaya's mother and other guests present at the event, the situation remained grim. Kejriwal had to ultimately leave the stage and the event without completing his speech.

However, few minutes later BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, who brought up the same topic while addressing the gathering, was greeted with applause.

The entire incident was very disturbing for the family of Nirbhaya. While her mother broke down in tears, her father refused to be defeated and said, 'We will keep fighting.'

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